Scanning probe microscope and measuring method by means of the same

ABSTRACT

A scanning probe microscope capable of radiating light on a sample without moving the sample from the scanning probe microscope and measuring the sample with controlling the condition under which the sample is placed and without changing the location of the sample is provided. The scanning probe microscope includes a cantilever having a probe on a top end thereof, sample moving means for moving the sample, detachable cantilever bending amount detecting means for detecting bending amount of the cantilever by means of a laser beam and exposure means for exposing the sample to light from upper side of the cantilever, wherein the cantilever bending amount detecting means is independently detachable when exposure of the sample is carried out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a scanning probe microscope, particularly, a scanning probe microscope for measuring a sample changing its physical characteristic, composition and/or shape by radiation of light, and to a method of measuring a sample by means of the microscope.

2. Background Art

Conventionally, in order to analyze a substance such as photo-curing resin, which changes its physical characteristic, composition and/or shape by a photochemical reaction, or a substance adsorbed on a photocatalyst, by means of a scanning probe microscope before or after the radiation of light to evaluate the change in physical characteristic, composition and/or shape, used has been a method in which a sample before radiation of light is first analyzed by means of a scanning probe microscope, the sample is once taken out from the scanning probe microscope to be irradiated with light, and then, the sample is again introduced into the scanning probe microscope for analysis.

The conventional method includes, however, a step for taking out a sample from the scanning probe microscope, so that there is a problem of having a trouble in taking out and re-introducing the sample. Further, the scanning probe microscope has a problem that it is difficult to adjust a probe to a preceding analysis place when the taken-out sample is introduced again. Moreover, there is another problem that, in the case of deformation such as a bend or curing contraction due to a photochemical reaction, an amount of deformation of the preceding analysis place cannot be known even when the probe can be adjusted to the place.

In accordance with the above, the conventional method is considered not to be suitable for a purpose of evaluating change in physical characteristic in stages by radiating light plural times. Further, in the case of a sample whose progress of a reaction changes in accordance with the atmosphere around the sample, the sample should be placed in a shielded container to be irradiated with light under a controlled atmosphere. The conventional method, however, has a problem that the sample is exposed to the air when taken out from and re-introduced into the scanning probe microscope.

The root of these problems are considered to be in a structure in which a mechanism for detecting bending amount of a cantilever of the scanning probe microscope is mounted inside the scanning probe microscope and is not detachable independently of the cantilever (refer to Patent Reference 1, for example).

Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2003-50191

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a scanning probe microscope capable of solving the above problems, radiating light on a sample without moving the sample from the scanning probe microscope and measuring the sample without changing the location of the sample and with controlling the condition under which the sample is placed.

For the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention provides a scanning probe microscope comprising: a cantilever having a probe on a top end thereof; sample moving means for moving a sample; detachable cantilever bending amount detecting means for detecting bending amount of the cantilever by means of a laser beam; and exposure means for exposing the sample to light from upper side of the cantilever.

Further, the invention provides a scanning probe microscope, in which the cantilever, the sample and the sample moving means are provided inside an airtight container, the cantilever bending amount detecting means and the exposure means are provided outside the airtight container and the laser beam and the light radiated from the exposure means are irradiated to the inside of the airtight container via a window through which light can pass.

Further, the invention provides a scanning probe microscope, in which quartz glass is used for the window to irradiate ultraviolet rays on the sample from the exposure means.

Moreover, the invention provides a scanning probe microscope, in which a mechanism for introducing any kinds of gas and a vacuum pump are further mounted to the airtight container so as to be able to control an atmosphere and a pressure in exposure.

In addition to the above, the invention provides a scanning probe microscope further comprising a mechanism for controlling a temperature of the sample so as to be able to control a temperature in exposure.

Furthermore, the invention provides a measuring method in which the sample is measured by means of the scanning probe microscope, the cantilever bending amount detecting means are detached to expose the sample by means of the exposure means, and then, the cantilever bending amount detecting means is mounted again for measuring the sample after exposure.

A scanning probe microscope and a method of measuring a sample by means of the same in accordance with the invention have the following effects.

In a scanning probe microscope in accordance with the invention, at the time of exposure, detaching an independently detachable cantilever bending amount detecting means from the scanning probe microscope allows the sample to be exposed by means of an exposure light source without blocked by the cantilever bending amount detecting means, so that the sample can be exposed without moving the cantilever and the sample. Accordingly, an exactly same place of the sample can be analyzed before and after exposure. This allows a sample including a substance, which changes its physical characteristic, composition and/or shape due to a photochemical reaction, or a sample including a substance adsorbed on a photocatalyst, to be efficiently measured and analyzed, so that change in physical characteristic, composition and/or shape of the sample can be evaluated.

Further, exposure is carried out under a condition that the cantilever approaches the sample, so that the sample is masked by means of the cantilever while it is exposed. Accordingly, a part of the sample shadowed by the cantilever is not exposed. Moreover, it can be seen on the basis of the shape of the cantilever which place of the sample is exposed. Therefore, measuring an area crossovering an exposed part and an unexposed part after exposure by means of the scanning probe microscope allows a shape and/or a physical characteristic of a surface of the sample before and after exposure to be evaluated by performing measurement once, and furthermore, a boundary between the exposed part and the unexposed part to be measured.

In addition to the above, providing the cantilever and the sample moving means inside the airtight container or a vacuum container, adding the gas introducing means and providing the cantilever bending amount detecting means and the exposure light source outside the airtight container or the vacuum container allow a sample which changes its progress of a photochemical reaction in accordance with the change in atmosphere to be repeatedly exposed and measured in an environment that the atmosphere is controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a structure of a scanning probe microscope in a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a shadow of a cantilever of a scanning probe microscope in accordance with the invention, the shadow being cast at the time of exposure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a structure of a scanning probe microscope in a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, making reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a structure of a scanning probe microscope in a first embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1, a cantilever 1 is formed of silicon or silicon nitride, has a shape of about 200 μm in length, about 40 μm in width and about 3 μm in thickness and is mounted to a cantilever holder 3. On a top end of the cantilever 1, provided is a minute probe 2, which is produced by etching and is about 3 to 7 μm in height and whose radius at the top end thereof is about 10 nm.

A laser beam source 5 for radiating a laser beam 4 and laser displacement detecting means 6 are fixedly provided as cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 independently from a sample and the cantilever so as to be detachable without moving the sample and the cantilever. The laser beam 4 is radiated on the cantilever 1. The reflected laser beam from the cantilever 1 reaches the laser displacement detecting means 6. Detecting the displacement of a position where the reflected light reaches allows bending amount of the cantilever 1 to be measured.

A sample is fixed by means of sample holding means 9. Sample moving means 10 is used for changing a measuring place and scanning in measurement. The sample moving means 10 comprise a piezoelectric device and the like and is movable by application of a voltage. The moving direction of the sample moving means 10 is arranged to be determined in accordance with a plus or minus direction of a voltage while the moving amount of the above is arranged to be determined on the basis of the magnitude of a voltage.

An exposure light source 12 used as exposure means is fixed just vertically above the cantilever 1 so that the cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 is sandwiched between the exposure light source 12 and the cantilever 1. The exposure light source 12 radiates exposure radiating light 11. The wavelength or strength of the exposure radiating light 11 is changed in accordance with a purpose of measurement. In exposure, the cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 is detached so as not to block the exposure radiating light 11.

Next, a method of measuring a sample (a measuring process) by means of a scanning probe microscope in the first embodiment will be described.

First, a sample 8 is measured with the cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 being mounted. The cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 are then detached and the sample 8 is exposed by means of the exposure light source 12. Subsequently, the cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 is mounted again to measure the sample 8. This allows the sample 8 to be measured before and after exposure without moving the sample 8 and the cantilever 1.

In exposure, a part of a surface of the sample 8 becomes a shadow of the cantilever 1, and thereby, is not exposed, as shown in FIG. 2. The shape of the shadow of the cantilever 1 can be known in advance in accordance with the shape of the cantilever 1. Accordingly, in order to measure the exposed part, a moving amount of the sample, which is necessary to move the probe 2 to a part out of the shadow, can be calculated on the basis of the shape of the shadow to move the sample by means of the sample moving means 10. Further, measuring the shadow part allows a state before exposure to be measured. Moreover, measuring an area crossovering the exposed part and the shadow part allows the sample 8 before and after exposure to be measured at one time.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a structure of a scanning probe microscope in a second embodiment of the invention. Components common to those of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference signs and numerals and detail description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 3, a window 13 is made of transparent glass through which light can pass. In the case of using ultraviolet rays as the exposure radiating light, a window made of quartz glass is used to make the ultraviolet rays pass through. An airtight container 14 comprises inside a cantilever 1, a cantilever holder 3, sample holding means 9 and sample moving means 10. It is possible to mount cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 outside the airtight container 14.

The laser beam 4 radiated from the laser beam source 5 of the cantilever bending amount detecting means 7 is incident on the window 13 to enter the inside of the airtight container 14. The laser beam 4 is then reflected on the cantilever 1 to go out of the airtight container 14 again through the window 13 and be incident on the laser displacement detecting means 6.

The airtight container 14 is capable of introducing a desired gas inside by means of a gas introducing pipe 15, gas flow rate controlling means 16 and a vacuum pump 17 with the atmospheric pressure of the gas being controlled.

In the scanning probe microscope in the second embodiment, controlling the atmosphere and the atmospheric pressure of the inside of the airtight container 14 before carrying out the measurement described in Embodiment 1 allows change in photochemical reaction caused by change in atmosphere to be measured.

-   [FIG. 1] -   1: DETACHABLE -   [FIG. 2] -   2: PART TO BE EXPOSED -   3: SHADOW PART -   [FIG. 3] -   4: DETACHABLE -   5: INTRODUCING GAS -   6: DISCHARGING GAS     Description of Reference Numerals and Signs -   1: cantilever -   2: probe -   3: cantilever holder -   4: laser beam -   5: laser beam source -   6: laser displacement detecting means -   7: cantilever bending amount detecting means -   8: sample -   9: sample holding means -   10: sample moving means -   11: exposure radiating light -   12: exposure light source -   13: window -   14: airtight container (vacuum container) -   15: gas introducing pipe -   16: gas flow rate controlling means -   17: vacuum pump 

1. A scanning probe microscope comprising: a cantilever having a probe on a top end thereof; sample moving means for moving a sample; detachable cantilever bending amount detecting means for detecting bending amount of the cantilever by means of a laser beam; and exposure means for exposing the sample to light from upper side of the cantilever.
 2. The scanning probe microscope according to claim 1, wherein the cantilever, the sample and the sample moving means are provided inside an airtight container, the cantilever bending amount detecting means and the exposure means are provided outside the airtight container and the laser beam and the light radiated from the exposure means are irradiated to the inside of the airtight container via a window through which light can pass.
 3. The scanning probe microscope according to claim 2, wherein quartz glass is used for the window to radiate ultraviolet rays on the sample from the exposure means.
 4. The scanning probe microscope according to claim 2, wherein a mechanism for introducing any kinds of gas and a vacuum pump are further mounted to the airtight container so as to be able to control an atmosphere and a pressure at the time of exposure.
 5. The scanning probe microscope according to claim 4, further comprising a mechanism for adjusting a temperature of the sample so as to be able to control a temperature at the time of exposure.
 6. A measuring method by a scanning probe microscope comprising: a cantilever having a probe on a top end thereof; sample moving means for moving a sample; detachable cantilever bending amount detecting means for detecting bending amount of the cantilever by means of a laser beam; and exposure means for exposing the sample to light from upper side of the cantilever, wherein the sample is measured by means of the scanning probe microscope, the cantilever bending amount detecting means is detached to expose the sample by means of the exposure means, and then, the cantilever bending amount detecting means is mounted again for measuring the sample after exposure. 